UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Shaw, Judith S.
Dept./Program:
College of Education and Social Services
Year:
2008
Degree:
Ed. D.
Abstract:
Within many states, numerous innovative and successful initiatives aimed at improving the health care of children often are not connected to optimize impact nor are they broadly applied or disseminated. An improvement partnership is one model for collaboration to improve child health. The aim of an improvement partnership is to optimize the health of children in a statelregion through collaboration and to initiate and support measurement-based efforts to improve the delivery of children's health care. Using a qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews, observations and document review, this research explored how improvement partnerships function, about the meaning people bring to their experiences with child health improvement, and what contributes to the successful creation of an improvement partnership.
Ten broad themes were grouped under the headings of 'attributes describing' and 'strategies for developing.' The attributes of an improvement partnership include: 1) engaging state government and health care professionals in partnering to address child health issues and identifying, testing and implementing solutions; 2) serving as a resource for improvement assistance, the identified place to go in the state for child health improvement expertise, including improvement activities such as recruitment, systems improvement, measurement and data analysis, and linkages to the community; 3) translating knowledge through engagement of national and local experts; and 4) disseminating findings, spreading successful approaches and informing policy. Strategies for developing an improvement partnership include, building relationships, promoting buy-in, building upon existing networks, developing a system, engaging stakeholders, and addressing priority areas in child health.
Improvement partnerships are well positioned to promote exemplary child health care by creating an organizational core for improvement and maintaining a focus on local efforts. These durable, regional collaborations engage an array of public and private organizations, support the commitment and creativity of health care professionals and serve as a motivational force for the many individuals and organizations committed to improving children's health care.
Ten broad themes were grouped under the headings of 'attributes describing' and 'strategies for developing.' The attributes of an improvement partnership include: 1) engaging state government and health care professionals in partnering to address child health issues and identifying, testing and implementing solutions; 2) serving as a resource for improvement assistance, the identified place to go in the state for child health improvement expertise, including improvement activities such as recruitment, systems improvement, measurement and data analysis, and linkages to the community; 3) translating knowledge through engagement of national and local experts; and 4) disseminating findings, spreading successful approaches and informing policy. Strategies for developing an improvement partnership include, building relationships, promoting buy-in, building upon existing networks, developing a system, engaging stakeholders, and addressing priority areas in child health.
Improvement partnerships are well positioned to promote exemplary child health care by creating an organizational core for improvement and maintaining a focus on local efforts. These durable, regional collaborations engage an array of public and private organizations, support the commitment and creativity of health care professionals and serve as a motivational force for the many individuals and organizations committed to improving children's health care.